Hot branding of horses and ponies is being banned in Scotland on animal welfare grounds.

Currently hot branding of equines can only be carried out where specific permission is given, but no more such authorisations are to be granted.

The Scottish Government plans to remove an exemption in current laws allowing the practice on equine animals.

At the moment, hot branding can be carried out where specific permission is given, but ministers said no more authorisations would be granted.

Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, said new legal requirements to microchip horses meant branding them for identification purposes was no longer needed and added: “There is no place for hot branding in a country which prides itself on its high animal welfare credentials.

“This process is painful and involves burning and scarring sensitive tissue which can clearly cause animals unnecessary stress and pain.”

Ministers decided on the ban, also backed by a number animal welfare groups, following a public consultation on the proposals.

The proposal to ban this practice was widely supported by veterinary, equine and animal welfare organisations. A submission from the British Equine Veterinary Association said: “The BEVA believe that hot branding is a technique that is no longer justifiable on welfare grounds. The production of a hot brand requires the efficient destruction by burning of the superficial skin layers, leaving essentially a distinct scar.

“One of the problems with horses and ponies identified by hot brand is the great variation in the degree of this scarring. The procedure is undoubtedly painful and reactions to branding vary from the apparently stoic to quite violent. This is based on the direct experience of BEVA Council members, a review of additional video evidence and reports from others.”